Augusta’s Winking Judge is closing after 23 years in Hamilton
- Michael Kras
- 17 Dec 2020
It’s a sad day for Hamilton’s nightlife scene as one of Augusta Street’s favourite lived-in, cozy craft beer bars has announced it is closing its doors and moving on to a new ownership and new chapter.
Augusta’s Winking Judge has been a go-to pub and craft beer purveyor for 23 whole years in the city, operating out of its digs in a historical two-storey house on Augusta Street as one of the first bars to introduce craft beer to Hamilton.
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With an always jam-packed blackboard menu of rotating craft beer from Ontario and beyond, as well as a selection of unpretentious bar bites and comfort food, the Judge has been a long-time favourite for Hamiltonians looking to kick back late into the night with their favourite pals.
The Judge’s owners announced the closure on Thursday afternoon via social media, pointing to a number of reasons – including the pandemic – leading the decision.
“Many factors such as the uncertainty of COVID, health issues, and our ages have made the decision a reality,” reads their announcement on Instagram.
However, the closure is also set to lead to a rebirth as of February 2021, as a new set of owners have obtained The Judge and will – in the words of its outgoing owners – keep its spirit alive; even if it’s currently unclear whether the new owners intend to maintain The Judge as Hamilton knows it, or change things up.
Either way, countless Hamiltonians are sure to fondly remember The Winking Judge, it’s welcoming atmosphere, and the memories it had a hand in creating.
Read more on the Winking Judge’s social media.
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